Facing a 21-14 deficit after a sluggish first half, Nixa coach John Perry used a theme of blunt honesty in his halftime talk with the team.

He ended it by issuing a challenge that came down to this: It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

"(Joplin) outplayed us, they outcoached us, they had more energy," Perry said. "I told them at halftime, 'The team that should be winning the first half is winning the first half. No doubt.'

"But nobody ever remembers who won the first half, so I challenged them: 'Let's go win the half that matters."

Over the next two quarters, the Eagles show they are viable state title contenders among the eight remaining schools in Class 6.

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